Happy Friday, Washington Democrats!

This week, we are mourning the passing of former Washington State Speaker of the House Frank Chopp. Speaker Chopp was an inspiration and powerhouse from his first campaign to his tenure as one of the most effective and impactful Speakers of the House in Washington state histor,y spanning three decades of public service. Today, the Low Income Housing Institute exists, and 800,000 Washington children have healthcare thanks to his efforts. Speaker Chopp was a true definition of a Statesman and dedicated leader for Washington state. We mourn his passin,g and our hearts go out to everyone who loved him as we did. Thank you for everything, Speaker Chopp. We will do our best to uphold your legacy and will forever be grateful for your lifetime of service. We will share more details about ways to honor his life as we learn more. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Low Income Housing Institute, El Centro de la Raza, and Open Doors for Multicultural Families. You can read the obituary prepared by Speaker Chopp’s family here.

Some Good News to Highlight

We can add more Democratic overperformance to our list! In Pennsylvania, Democrats Dan Goughnour and James Malone won their special elections. Goughner’s win retains the Democratic majority in PA’s State House and Malone upset a Republican in a district that Trump won by +15%! Quick reminder that April 1 features crucial special elections in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court and Florida’s congressional delegation – find out how to help below!

Call to Action

• FINAL WEEKEND: Elect More Democrats to the U.S. House
  • There’s a Special Election for 2 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida. We have the opportunity to use a low turnout election to cut into MAGA Mike Johnson’s majority, but we need everyone’s help. Write postcards, make phone calls, and more to help push the Democrats over the top in this April 1 election (no fooling!). Learn more on how to help Josh Weil and Gay Valimont here.
  • Phonebank from home on Sundays to recruit volunteers and turn out voters in FL-01, FL-06, and NY-21. Democrats are only three seats away from a House majority. It’s a longshot, but in special elections the electorate looks a LOT different – help us win these seats here!

• FINAL WEEKEND: Stop Elon Musk from Buying Wisconsin’s Supreme Court Seat
  • Donate to Susan Crawford!
  • Watch Video [Indivisible]
  • Find ways you can help: write letters, make calls, make your own event

• Call the Attorney General to Demand the Release of Alfredo Juarez from ICE Detention
  • Call 360-753-6200 and tell the Washington Attorney General’s office that you are calling to demand the release of labor organizer and farmworker activist Alfredo Juarez. Please be polite, but firm. More details here.

• Request Personal Date Obtained by DOGE
  • U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin is encouraging every U.S. citizen to file formal demands for access to the personal information obtained by the Department of Government Efficiency. You can find a fillable form here. Once you have filled out the form, please print it off and mail it in to DOGE at the address on the form. 

• Rally, Protest, and Gather
  • Every Wednesday – Time to Act volunteer trainings organized by Swing Left are hosted virtually every Wednesday from 6:30PM-7:30PM. Sign up here
  • Every Wednesday – Musk or Us Protests in Redmond every Wednesday from 4PM-5PM. Sign up here
  • Every Thursday – Seattle Indivisible hosts their Issue Advocacy Meetings every Thursday from 5PM-6PM. Sign up here

• Send us details on rallies and protests in your communities 
  • Email details to [email protected]

• Donate

If you would like to see less Washington D.C. and more Washington state in your community, please DONATE to The Real Washington Fund – our rapid response account to counter MAGA’s chaos with real organizing, real solutions, and real results. We can’t do the work of holding Republicans accountable without your support.

• Follow us on social media

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Storybanking – Send Us Your Stories

This week, we’re sharing the story of Julia Barcott, a registered nurse in Yakima. Julia wants everyone to understand that when we say that Republicans are gutting Medicaid, that means they are actually gutting state-run healthcare for low-income families and children – in our state, that means Apple Health. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Julia! You can click the image above or watch it here.

The best way to persuade people about the horrible impacts of Trump’s chaos is to share real stories from real people in their communities. If you are interested in sharing your story of the direct impacts of Trump 2.0 on your life, please send an email to [email protected] that includes your name, contact information, which Washington community you reside in, the story you would like to share, and permission to share your story with the public. 

Our Communications team will be in touch within a few business days after you have reached out to help collect your story. 

Working for Washington

This week, I have been in the other Washington meeting with my colleagues at the Democratic National Committee to strategize and provide insight into how our Washington bucked the Republican shift last year. Once we have finalized our plans, I look forward to sharing next steps and some exciting new initiatives to help us take back Congress in 2026 with all of you.

It’s been a wild week! Starting with the jaw-dropping ineptitude of our Secretary of Defense and other cabinet members sharing classified information in a Signal group chat – the fact they had inadvertently allowed a journalist into their chat was just the tip of the iceberg of appalling security failures. You’ll also see Washington’s own conspiracy theorist, Joe Kent, who has run two unsuccessful campaigns against U.S. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, pop up in the group chat.  Quite simply, this shocking mess has directly harmed our national security and further proven this administration’s inability to keep our country safe.

While I was in meetings, Trump also released his executive order that would weaken our elections systems and undermine our democratic institutions. Given that our Washington has the best elections systems in the country, where everyone receives a paper ballot in the mail and can submit their ballot in a secure ballot drop box or through the mail, where we have same-day voter registration, and where you can mail your ballot in for free with no stamp, we know that this executive order is nothing more than a smokescreen to inject Trump’s deranged conspiracy theories about his 2020 election loss into our democracy. 

I am so proud to live in a state that elected Nick Brown as our Attorney General, who has already indicated he will be filing a lawsuit against this latest executive overreach that threatens every American’s right to vote. Because of that late-breaking executive order, you won’t find that lawsuit on our list below, but you will find EVERY other lawsuit our state has launched against this lawless administration and where it currently stands in our judicial system:

Republicans Behaving Badly

ICE arrests WA farmworker activist in Sedro-Woolley, The Seattle Times 

This appalling abuse of civil rights further proves the lengths the autocratic Trump administration will take to punish its political enemies. I applaud our Congressional delegation, especially Senators Murray and Cantwell and U.S. Representative Larsen who are diligently working to secure Mr. Juarez’s release. 

The Trump Administration accidentally texted me its war plans, The Atlantic 

The gross incompetence of the Trump administration continues to expose itself with alarming regularity. This week, Americans were shocked to discover that (potentially classified) military plans to launch strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen were discussed by senior Trump administration officials over the Signal messaging app – a breach of security protocol that was only discovered because the Trump team accidentally included a reporter in the Signal chat. Defense Secretary Hegseth is the most unqualified leader in history of our Defense Department and should resign immediately.

Apples, pears, cherries look for Trump’s help with trade, Capital Press Our Northwest farmers of apples, pears, and cherries have lost approximately $700 million to $1.1 billion in exports to China alone since Trump’s first term because of retaliatory tariffs. For the China market: Apple exports are down 77%. Cherry exports are down 73%. Pear exports are down 99%! Trump’s trade war is hurting our family farms and Washington’s economy.

Democrats in the News

WA Democrats in Congress demand Trump’s defense secretary resign amid Signal scandal, The Olympian

Washington’s senators raise alarm over Trump administration’s changes to Social Security Administration, The News Tribune

Cantwell joins colleagues to fight for social security recipients, Gorge Country News

Which taxes are on the table for Washington state lawmakers, Axios

WA Democrats’ budget proposals intensify debate on new taxes, spending, The Seattle Times

Liberals fight back, as new Tesla registrations plunge in WA, The Seattle Times

What I’m Reading

Alaskans to pay heavy price as Social Security moves to in-person checks, The Seattle Times Our American neighbors to the North are facing incredible hurdles erected by the Trump administration to access their Social Security benefits. This is going to hurt seniors, especially our Native elders – all to line the pockets of Trump’s wealthy donors.